perkolator Posted September 11, 2014 Report Share Posted September 11, 2014 Was wondering if anyone knows which is going to be the best and longest-lasting banding wheel available right now? I'm looking for 10-12" wheel head, with maybe 4" rise. They need to be heavy-duty and hold up to undergraduate abuse with heavy sculpture on them (maybe 50-100#+) So far, the Shimpo units seem to be the better-built ones on the market, but maybe there's others? If there's nothing on the market that fits these requirements - anyone made a banding wheel using the rear wheel hub/bearing assembly from a FWD vehicle? I think I even came across it on the net many years back (that's where I got the idea i guess), just haven't found the right hub assembly that's flat on both sides for mounting to steel plate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foxden Posted September 11, 2014 Report Share Posted September 11, 2014 I have a large Shimpo and love how it's mass gives it a great deal of inertia when spinning. Keeps spinning so easily. Paid around $100 for my model. It makes spraying glaze easier, too, since I am able to focus on spraying rather than trying to get a nice even turn of the banding wheel. I have used other brands but clearly favor the Shimpo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neilestrick Posted September 12, 2014 Report Share Posted September 12, 2014 Shimpo are the best if you need it to spin freely and smoothly. But if you just need to be able to rotate it as you work, any cheap one or even a homemade one will work. I've got one I've used for 15 years made from lazy susan bearings and particle board. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcia Selsor Posted September 12, 2014 Report Share Posted September 12, 2014 I have a shimpo and a Bailey. I think they are equal. Both are heavy duty. Marcia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pres Posted September 12, 2014 Report Share Posted September 12, 2014 Shimpo for me, and it holds up well on larger pieces being hefty, stable, and having a smooth bearing motion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark C. Posted September 12, 2014 Report Share Posted September 12, 2014 shimpo for me as well as a homemade one from a 12 inch older style Brent wheel head. Both work great. Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mug Posted September 12, 2014 Report Share Posted September 12, 2014 I have an Amaco and love it. The new one is made by Brent, good for 200# and is drilled for batts. I have had my hands on the Shimpo's and they seem to be well worth the price. I havent seen Shimpo list the weight capacity. Its kind of funny that Brent can offer a banding wheel for less than the cost of the wheel head by itself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denice Posted September 12, 2014 Report Share Posted September 12, 2014 I belonged to a sculpture group for 10 years and we would make them out of formica sink cut outs and lazy susan bearings for cabinets. I tend to work big and never found anything they couldn't handle in weight. They are larger than 12", they range between 16" and 18" because of the cut out sizes. We got the cut outs from contractors, kitchen bath installers ect. Denice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biglou13 Posted September 12, 2014 Report Share Posted September 12, 2014 i want this banding (ish) wheel <iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/8T4bsH8XQv4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc McMillan Posted September 12, 2014 Report Share Posted September 12, 2014 I have a shimpo too. It was a gift and is lovingly covered in splashed of clay, glaze and wax. It is incredibly smooth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JBaymore Posted September 13, 2014 Report Share Posted September 13, 2014 Shimpo is the Cadalliac of banding wheels, with Lockerbie coming in second. best, .............john Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
perkolator Posted September 15, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 15, 2014 Thanks everyone. Looks like I'll be getting some Shimpos! We do have some of those 12" lazy susan bearings setup as turntables, they're OK but undergrads tend to clog them with clay somehow. I'm also just looking for something "nicer" for a tool checkout system. Still going to try to build an HD turntable sometime this year. Last year our Sculpture lab acquired a bunch of free umbrella stands, so I snagged 2 of them for future HD banding wheels. Material is 2ft square, 1/2" thick steel plate, uber heavy. Should make a nice turntable with a hub bearing from the junkyard. I'll be sure to share my results. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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